Brahmadutt went to the king’s court after getting done with his daily routine. Shikhi was alone at home with the servants. He was restless already. Taking some firm decisions, he walked out of the house. He didn't even inform the servants where he was going.
There was a park named Ashok Park at some distance outside Koshambi. Shikhi walked towards Ashok Park. He decided that he would move to another town after spending some time in Ashok Park.
As soon as he entered the park, he saw a delightful sight in the west. He saw a saint sitting under the shade of a huge tree. Hundreds of monks, engrossed in meditation, were sitting around him. This scene brought consolation to the troubled mind of Shikhi. His mind suddenly cheered up.
Acharya Shri Vijaysinh had come to Koshambi city with his group of five hundred monks. Young Acharyaji’s face had a tinge of brightness. He looked calm and knowledgeable. Shikhi looked at him and just kept looking! A question arose in his mind.
‘Why would have this charming man accepted this life of a saint? However, whatever he did is right. The affection of every being in this world is short lived and fickle. So renouncing home was a good decision. But there must have been some reason for detachment from this world. It would be great if I could get to know the reason. Let me go and ask.’
Shikhi went near the tree and greeted Acharyaji. Acharyaji blessed him saying, ‘Dharmlabh.’ Colours of joy emerged on his face. Shikhi's heart felt joyful.
He asked politely, “Gurudev!” Shikhi's voice was as sweet as honey.
"You look so marvellous and charming. You must be having ample of wealth, comforts and a great family too.”
"Whatever you mentioned, I had everything!” replied Acharyaji.
"Then why did you leave everything and become a saint? Did any such incident take place in your life which detached you from this world?"
Gurudev said in a warm voice, "Young man, you saw my body and its beauty, you liked that. Even I used to like all that before. But when I got the wisdom to peep inside this body, I found only bones, horrific blood, flesh, fat and dirt. And the fascination for beauty of the body vanished. What to do with the pretentious beauty of the upper skin only?
The second thing you mentioned was about wealth and splendor. There was stress and restlessness as much as the wealth. Therefore, it is natural to get bored of the splendor. So, I renounced the splendor.
Your third point was about relatives. In the physical world, beings wish for the company of their beloved ones. But the company of beloved ones is not eternal. It is fickle, momentary and disconnected. How can someone drool over such relations! My attachment faded, I gave up on my loved ones and accepted this life.
I have myself experienced the momentary nature of relations in this world. You may be surrounded with a number of relatives. However, when man becomes a victim of incurable diseases, he goes through immense pain and that cannot be reduced by his relatives! The pain can't be divided. Then you tell me, how is such company of relatives useful? Friends, parents and partner, everyone weeps bitterly as death traps a human. None of them can stop death. Then what is the use of living with such relatives?
We all are born alone in this world. We will die alone and go on our journey towards heaven by ourselves. Then why shouldn't we live alone? Why should we desire to be in such company?
Not only this, every being, every human binds good and bad karmas alone and bears their results by himself. Family and friends play no role there. Who is whose relative?
And I would like to bring one important thing to your notice that no relative in this world remains the same forever. The form and nature of people keeps changing. Presently, who are close to us can also become strangers with the passage of time. Even a son can become an enemy, mother becomes an enemy, father and brother become enemies. Then who would you call kin?
The souls who are blinded by attachment are not able to take stock of this situation and they are attached to their loved ones. Knowing all this, understanding this, I have sacrificed my relatives.”
Shikhi asked, “Gurudev, how did you attain this knowledge. Did you get to know all this by yourself or did some wise man explain all this to you?"
"Good question. An unprecedented event happened in my life, I will narrate you the incident.”
***
“In this region, there is a town named Laxminilay. In that town, lived a merchant named Sagardutt with his wife Shrimati. I was his son. My name was Vijaysinh."
Shikhi attentively listened to Acharyaji’s story from his own mouth. A look of excitement appeared on his face.
Acharyaji continued, "There is a mountain named Mount Laxmi near the town Laxminilay. One day, just for hanging out, I went to the Laxmi Mountain alone. The mountain was filled with greenery. Nature had spread its beauty over there. While walking, I found myself amidst a jumble of coconut trees. Moving forward, walking in the grove of thousands of tall coconut trees. I saw a tree and was left astonished. I stood there and stared at the tree. The roots of that tree went deep into the ground and the lush green leaves of that tree were glowing. A question arose in my mind. ‘No roots of any tree penetrate so deep into the ground, and how deep do the roots of this tree seem to have descended? It seems to have some mystery in it.'
I stood there thinking. Meanwhile, some inexplicable happiness started arising in my heart. I had shivers down my spine.
• The air also started blowing with fragrance!
• Flowers started blooming on plants.
All seasonal flowers started spreading their fragrance in the garden of the mountain. The hive of bees started making sweet sounds. The group of birds started chirping and flying. Coming out of the clouds, the sun began spreading its web of silver rays on the earth.
I jumped with joy and happiness. I couldn’t understand how all of a sudden such a magical transformation came about. Why had nature been at its best on this mountain in its mesmerising style? Even the branches of the trees were swinging as if they were dancing!
I passed through the clump of the coconut trees and came out. When I looked towards the west direction, my eyes widened in amazement and my face glowed with happiness.
A dharmachakra was descending on the mountain. As stunning as the sun, adorned with gold, the divine wheel was descending from the sky chanting ‘Jai, Jai, Jai.’ With the divine wheel, countless heavenly gods singing divine songs were also descending on the earth.
The smell of fragrant incense began to permeate the atmosphere. I saw thousands of monks in white clothes coming from far away. Walking on nine golden lotuses, I saw a Tirthankar. His name was Ajitnath. The heavenly gods were holding a divine umbrella above His head. The sound of divine trumpets was resonating. A halo was situated behind His head. Two heavenly gods were waving whisks on both sides. Heavenly gods and humans were singing soulful hymns. I also started singing and dancing along with them. I felt that my great fortune had come true. The darkness of ignorance dissipated. The light of knowledge spread within me!
I also kept walking along with all the people, dancing and singing songs. At a distance, the divine Samavasaran prepared by heavenly gods could be seen. The Samavasaran had three storeys. The first storey was made up of silver, the second of gold and the third one was of precious gems.
In front of that Samvasaran, was a divine toran. Many flags were waving high up in the sky.
Gems were studded on the three storeys. Steps were built in all four directions to climb up. In the periphery, where the step began, there were beautiful artistic torans and gates. In the upper part of the three storeys, there was a beautiful throne engraved by precious gems. Tirthankar Ajitnath sat on a beautiful divine throne. Immediately the shadow of the Ashoka tree fell on the Samavasaran. Heavenly beings started showering flowers and playing musical instruments.
Heavenly beings, humans, birds and animals sitting in all the four directions saw Tirthankar Ajitnath. I also went to the floor where humans were sitting and sat in the next line.
I had seen a Tirthankar for the very first time in my life. For the first time, I was seeing such divine splendour of his Samavasaran. In the ocean of my heart, waves of indescribable emotions were rising.
How wonderful was the Tirthankar’s glory! Soft like cream and radiant like flowers. Neither did the eyes get tired nor did the heart get bored. Such an attractive persona and divinity! I was in awe! Just then, the sermons of the Tirthankar started. His speech was sweeter than honey and more pleasant than sugar. All the heavenly gods, humans, birds and animals were able to listen to his sermons in their own languages and understand it well.
Shikhi asked in the middle, “Gurudev, did the heavenly gods create a gadget or perform any miracle so that every living being could listen to the teachings of Tirthankar in their own language and understand them?”
“It is not an arrangement made by the heavenly gods. But this is a special attribute of the Tirthankar itself!
There are four Atishay of every Tirthankar.”
Shikhi asked, "Gurudev, what does Atishay mean?"
Gurudev explained, “Special characteristics. They’re of four types :
1. The enlightenment of Tirthankars is such that they are aware of all happenings of the past, present and future of the entire universe. They know about all the substances and their forms.
2. Tirthankars have such supreme fortunate karmas that the heavenly gods also bow down at His feet.
3. Wherever Tirthankars wander, the area and the beings around them are freed from all diseases and sorrows.
4. Every being can hear the sermons of Tirthankars in their own language and understand them.
These are the four special features.”
Shikhi asked, “Gurudev, you listened to Tirthankar’s sermons. What teachings did he give?” He said, "The entire universe is changeable. The external form of any living being is not eternal. In the four categories of incarnations, the souls keep changing their form one by one. Even in the same category, the form of living being keeps changing. Everything is subject to change, then whom to love and whom to hate? The entities that beings drool over today, the same entities are disliked when their form changes i.e. either the person’s appearance or personality changes or the objects lose their charm.
Feelings of humans are not permanent either. Even they are temporary. Neither is attachment permanent nor hatred. All human beings must be free from all this. Only then the path to salvation opens up. The fickle nature of the world should be seen as it is.
This is the summary of the sermon that I have put in my own words. If you attend it live, you will feel like listening to his sermons and just keep on listening. It's so sweet and impactful that you don't get tired even after listening to it for hours at a stretch. Even if you listen to it for an entire day, you won't feel bored!
On Laxmi Mountain, the Tirthankar gave sermons only for an hour. As soon as it was over, I stood up and expressed my curiosity.
Shikhi asked Gurudev, “Can we ask questions to Tirthankar in the Samavasaran?”
“Yes, we can. And when we ask, Tirthankar gives answers to all our questions.”
"Then you might have experienced so much happiness in your mind! What question did you ask, Gurudev?” Shikhi asked.
Gurudev replied, "I asked, ‘Lord, what was the reason for the roots of this particular tree grown deep enough in the coconut forest? Is there a treasure trove in the ground beneath that tree? If treasure is buried, then how much money is there? Who buried the treasure there? And what will happen to that treasure in the future? Will it remain buried in the earth or come out? Lord, please satisfy this little curiosity of mine!’
After listening to my question, other men and women sitting in the Samavasaran also got curious as to what secret does Lord reveal about that buried treasure?"
“What secret did the Tirthankar reveal? It would surely be an interesting and exciting story.”
"It’s a very exciting story and it also has story of my past incarnations hidden in it. Listen to it attentively.”
